Wire-stretcher.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

A. A. SMITH.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1905.

TTN 1TB b STATES PATENT UFFTCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed June 20,1905. Serial No- 266,153.

. To all whom (It may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eagle grove, in the county of Wright and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire-stretchers, more especially that shown and described in Patent No. 769,027, granted to me August 30, 1904, and to provide a wire-stretcher of this character having a slidable carrier pro- 'vided with a double acting pawl or dog adapted to be readily arranged for locking the carrier against outward movement to enable the same to be successively advanced for stretching a fence-Wire and capable of being also set to permit the slidable carrier to be moved outward'freely and of automatically locking the same at the limit of its outward movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yieldable device adapted to be readily shifted to either side of the pivot of the double-acting pawl or dog and capable of being set for automatic operation, so that the pawl or dog will be oscillated to change its position when the tension on the wire-stretcher is released for this purpose.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construc tion within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wirestretcher constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the outer portion of the wire-stretcher, illustrating the construction of the slidable casing and the double-actin pawl or dog. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the slide for controlling the pawl or dog. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the upper portion Q pawl 3 of a slidable carrier 4.

spacing-sleeves 7. A i interposed between the slde plates or pieces of the central casing of the slidable carrier, illustrating the manner of mounting the slide which controls the pawl or dog.

Like numerals of reference designate cor responding parts in all the figures of the draw- 111 's. I

1 designates a combined guide and ratchetbar provided at its upper edge with ratchetteeth 2, shouldered at their inner ands and adapted to be engaged by a pivoted dog or The combined guide and ratchet-bar is provided at its inner end with a pair of spaced side plates or pieces 5, secured to the bar 1 by means of transverse rivets 6 or other suitable fastening devices, which pierce the side plates or pieces and the inner portion of the bar 1 and which receive The spacing-sleeves 7 are 5 and the inner portion of the combined guide and ratchet-bar 1, and the intervening spaces between the side plates or pieces 5 and the bar 1 are provided for the reception of a pair of grooved pulleys 8, adapted to receive a rope 9 or other suitable flexible connection. The side plates or pieces 5 are provided with a pair of depending hooks 10, which are adapted to engage a post 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The wire'stretcher is secured to the post 11 by means of a chain 12, having one end linked into an eye 13 of one of the side plates. The chain is adapted to be passed around the post, as clearly shown in Flg. 2, and it is engaged by an open eye or hook 13, extending upward from the other side plate or piece 5. The chain is located above the post-engaging hooks 10, and the wire-stretcherwill be firmly supported on the post 11 in position for stretching a fence-wire. 'The free end of the chain is provided with a wire clamp 14, adapted to hold a fence-wire after the same has been partially stretched and while the wire-stretching mechanism is being adjusted for another stretching operation.

The grooved pulleys 8 are mounted on. a' transverse shaft or axle which pierces the side plates and. the inner portion of the bar 1, and the said pulleys receive the flexible connection 9, which is secured at one end to the slidable carrier and which is laced back and forth from the inner end of the guide-bar to the slidable carrier. The slidable carrier comprises a pair of side plates 15 and an inner casing 16, which is composed of two sides and which has the side plates 15 secured to it by means of rivets 17 or other suitable fastening devices. The inner casing 16 is provided with a longitudinal opening to receive the combined guide and ratchet-bar, and the side plates or pieces are spaced from the inner casing to provide intervening spaces for the reception of a pair of grooved guide-pulleys 18. The longitudinal opening is formed by opposite longitudinal grooves 19, formed in the inner faces of the sides of the central casing of the carrier, and the said central casing is also provided between its ends with opposite recesses 20, forming an upper slot or opening for the reception of the double-acting dog or pawl 3. The pawl or dog 3 is centrally mounted on a transverse pivot 21, and its opposite arms or portions are provided with tapered or pointed ends for engaging the combined guide and ratchet-bar. The pawl or dog is adapted to be arranged in either the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings or that shown in dotted lines in this figure, and it is retained in such position by a yieldable device, which is mounted in a slide 22. The slide 22 consists of a plate having reduced end portions 23 arranged within ways formed by opposite L-shaped lugs 24, which project upwardly and inwardly over the end portions of the slot or opening formed by the recesses 20 of the sides of the central casing of the carrier. The slide is provided with a central projection or stud 25, forming a handle, and having an inner bore or opening 26 to receive the yieldable device. The yieldable device consists of a coiled spring 27 and a headed pin 28. The coiled spring is arranged on the shank or body portion of the pin and is located within the opening of the projection or stud of the slide, and the head, which is rounded, engages the upper edge of the pawl or dog 3 and is adapted to be carried by the reciprocation of the slide to a position at either side of the pivot21. When the slide is moved inwardly to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it engages the inner arm or portion of the pawl or dog, and when the carrier is moved outwardly on the combined guide and ratchet-bar to the limit of its outward move ment the said pawl or dog is adapted to automatically engage a shoulder or wall 30 of an outer recess 31 of the said bar 1. This will prevent backward movement of the carrier, so that the flexible connection may be drawn taut and the wire secured in a clamp 32 of the carrier before releasing the latter. As long as there is any tension on the flexible connection the pawl or dog will be retained in engagement with the shoulder 30, and, if desired, the slide may be shifted to the opposite side of the pivot without changing the position of the pawl or dog. -The dog will then be shifted automatically to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings when the tension is removed from the flexible connection sufficiently to permit the pawl or dog to move under the influence of the spring of the yieldable device of the slide 22. The wire clamp 32 is connected with the carrier, and when the latter is drawn inward by pulling upon the flexible connection 9 the wire will be stretched and the carrier will be locked against outward movement by the pawl or dog 3 engaging the teeth 2, which are shouldered at their inner ends. The pawl or dog will hold the carrier against outward movement while the wire is being stapled or otherwise secured to the post. The recess 31 is also provided with an outer shoulder 33, adapted to be engaged by the outer arm or portion of the pawl or dog for locking the carrier against outward movement; but the outer end of the combined guide and ratchet-bar is preferably provided with a stop 34, consisting of a short pin, which pierces the bar 1 and which projects from opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The wire clamp 32 is provided with a hook 35, which engages alined openings 36 of depending portions or flanges 37 of the sides or plates of the central casing of the carrier.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier slidable on the bar, a pawl or dog pivoted at an intermediate point to the carrier and arranged to engage the combined guide and ratchetbar, and a yieldable device slidable on the carrier for engaging the pawl or dog at either side of the pivotal point.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier slidable thereon, a pawl or dog pivoted to the carrier at an intermediate point and arranged to engage the said bar, a slide guided on the carrier, and yieldable means carried by the slide and arranged to engage the pawl or dog at either side of the pivotal point.

3. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier slidable on the bar, a pawl or dog pivoted at an intermediate point to the carrier and ar ranged to engage the said bar, and a yieldable device slidable on the carrier for engaging the pawl or dog at either side of the pivotal point, said yieldable device comprising a headed pin and a coiled spring disposed on the pin.

4. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier slidable on the bar, a pawl or dog pivoted at an intermediate point to the carrier and arranged to engage the said bar, a slide guided on the carrier and provided with a projection or stud having an opening extending inwardly from the inner face of the slide, a spring arranged within the said opening, and a pin also arranged in the opening of the stud and engaged by the spring, said pin being slidable on the pawl or dog and adapted to engage the same at either side of the pivot thereof.

5. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier slidable 011 the bar and provided with a casing having an opening, said casing being also provided with guides arranged over the opening, a slide fitted in the guides, and a yieldable device carried by the slide for engaging the pawl or dog.

6. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a combined guide and ratchet-bar, a carrier mounted on the bar and provided with a casing receiving the bar and composed of two stantially L-shaped lugs extending mwardly v and upwardly from the sides or ieces, a slide having reduced portions guided by the said lugs, and a yieldable device mounted on the slide for engaging the awl or dog.

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own. I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

S A. BARNES, J. H. HOWELL. 

